Retaining Wall Ordinance

The Board of Commissioners has adopted an ordinance to regulate the construction of retaining walls providing a cumulative vertical relief of greater than ten feet. The Retaining Wall Ordinance addresses standards for terracing, safety barriers, landscaping, engineer certification, and with large walls, the enabling of long term monitoring. Concurrent with application for a building permit, applicants will need to apply for and obtain a Retaining Wall Ordinance Certificate of Compliance. This will require an initial site plan review by Planning Department staff. Once the plan is approved and a building permit has been obtained, construction may begin on the wall or wall system. Prior to obtaining a certificate of completion, the applicant must provide all required documentation and have placed any required landscaping and/or safety barriers.